(PA)
(Picture: PA Wire)News of the UK Government reportedly planning to stop free lateral flow tests except for a number of “high-risk” settings has outraged members of the public, who have described the possible move as “reckless” and “completely and utterly dangerous”.
In a report which suggests the government are more interested in testing our patience than testing for coronavirus, The Sunday Times said the proposals for free tests to be limited to places such as care homes, schools and hospitals are set to be announced by Boris Johnson “within weeks”.
A senior Whitehall source told the outlet: “I don’t think we are in a world where we can continue to hand out free lateral flow tests to everybody forevermore.
“It’s likely we will move to a scenario where there is less testing but we have a capacity to ramp it up if necessary.”
People with symptoms would also be able to access free tests, according to the report, while the amount of contact tracing by NHS Test and Trace – a service that spent £13.5 billion up to April 2021 – could be scaled back.
The plans – which are understood to be part of the government’s move for us to “live” with the virus - are reportedly being considered despite a rising number of coronavirus cases, as the UK continues to deal with the highly infectious Omicron variant.
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Wes Streeting, Labour’s shadow health and social care secretary, warned the move would be “the wrong decision at the wrong time”, while Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon said if the prime minister was “really considering this” it would be “utterly wrongheaded”.
She also confirmed that the Scottish government had not signed up to the plans.
Meanwhile, Twitter users have expressed outrage at the news:
This is the one thing I think Britain has that most others don't in terms of pandemic precautions - and they're going to scrap it. https://t.co/TBvPNDJZyx
— James Gray (@jamesgraysport) January 9, 2022
Im surprised it’s taken this long for this to be announced to be honest. But what an unbelievably terrible and reckless decision especially at this point. How are they getting away with this? https://t.co/0FXxYMTxla
— Professor James Logan 💙 (@ProfJamesLogan) January 9, 2022
The wrong decision at the wrong time. Pandemic isn’t over and government must remain committed to protecting public. https://t.co/mEbzzGsIh7
— Thom Brooks (@thom_brooks) January 9, 2022
Funny. They’re more concerned about the millions it costs to keep the public safe from a killer virus rather than millions squandered on dodgy PPE contracts & a failed test & trace system.They can afford private PCR tests, this discriminates against the less well off. Scandalous. https://t.co/t7SI3OKih1
— Adil Ray OBE (@adilray) January 9, 2022
Breaking news from the government that’s been saying for months that lateral flow tests are essential to allow us to live with Covid. https://t.co/yrWLFl4DJN
— David Schneider (@davidschneider) January 9, 2022
WHAT??? Lateral flow tests have literally been the thing that make me feel safe enough to meet up with people.
— Dr Sally Le Page (@sallylepage) January 8, 2022
Covid has never been more prevalent in the UK than now. Why would you *not* want to keep track of this disease??? https://t.co/DxlT5YnfCl
Scrapping lateral flow tests is a huge "traffic accident deaths are down so we don't need seatbelts any more" vibe https://t.co/AhUss9Ffbt
— Tom Phillips (@flashboy) January 8, 2022
Every time I think the management of this pandemic cannot get more stupid, they wow me once again. So looking forward to lots of untested people coming to see me at work with COVID. Can’t bloody wait. https://t.co/XBV8H0ZlDQ
— Dr Hannah Barham-Brown (@DrHannahBB) January 8, 2022
The ability to ‘live with Covid’ is not experienced equally. Many are exposed to risk of covid at work and need to test regularly. Many households have clinically vulnerable people in them and rely on regular testing. Your fate in a pandemic shouldn’t rely on what you can afford. https://t.co/K0q6cDtgPD
— Jo Grady (@DrJoGrady) January 8, 2022
Protect public health? Of course not. Let’s line some already rich pockets and make the peasants pay for their own tests. This day was always coming https://t.co/6r8sSmSkfT
— Jane Hamilton (@janehamilton22) January 8, 2022
Putting aside the covid implications this doesn't feel like a great way to help with the cost of living problem. https://t.co/stjNApGtC7
— Sam Freedman (@Samfr) January 8, 2022
living with covid by never knowing whether you have it or not https://t.co/pNVJdpuwPv
— HK (@HKesvani) January 8, 2022
Free lateral flow tests are one of the few things making the pandemic slightly less terrifying for clinically vulnerable people. Removing it takes away a vital protection for millions of people already severely limiting their social contact - and at a time of a spreading variant.
— Frances Ryan (@DrFrancesRyan) January 8, 2022
A policy that might as well be called Screw Disabled People https://t.co/ovLYUXHMGH
— Lucy Webster (@Lucy_Webster_) January 9, 2022
Had to double check this was serious. What on earth is this government thinking? Bad enough not to pay people properly to self-isolate - but this? Do they not want to stop the spread of this disease?? https://t.co/1juQJ2k2yh
— Caroline Lucas (@CarolineLucas) January 8, 2022
The definition of stupidity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
— Dr Rosena Allin-Khan 💙 (@DrRosena) January 9, 2022
Lateral flow tests must remain freely available otherwise, as usual, those with the least will be hit hardest.
When will this Government learn? https://t.co/oev3ci2rUr
While a government spokesperson did not address whether access to free lateral flows would be cut back in the future, they told The Independent: “Everyone can continue to get free tests and we are continuing to encourage people to use rapid tests when they need them.
“Testing continues to play an important role in helping people live their day-to-day lives, keep businesses running and keep young people in school.”
Speaking to Sky News’ Trevor Phillips on Sunday, Nadhim Zahawi, the education secretary, said he did not recognise the Sunday Times report.
“This is absolutely not where we are at ... They’ll continue to be available for free,” he said.
